Note the caption of this photo printed in the Observer and Eccentric Newspaper in 1986.

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1 Each June, Friends of the Rouge, in partnership with Rouge communities and other organizations, brings volunteers together from across the watershed to work toward the common goal of improving the Rouge River for generations to come. This annual event, known as Rouge Rescue, began in 1986 with volunteers removing large quantities of trash from the river. As river sites improved, public perception of the river shifted away from the thought that the river was just an open sewer and a place to dump trash. Today, much of the event is focused on river restoration and volunteers work to remove invasive plants from the river corridor, install native plantings and stabilize stream banks to improve the health of the river. Rouge Rescue celebrated it s 25th anniversary this year. I can t imagine the few dedicated individuals who organized that first cleanup thought that in 25 years we would still be working to Rescue the Rouge today. There are many challenges to restoring an urban river and restoration does not come quick. Progress has been made over the past 25 years and the Rouge River is better because of it. Table 1 lists a few highlights from the past 25 years of Rouge Rescue. Table 1: Highlights from the past 25 years of Rouge Rescue Volunteer participation 49,601 Worksites 696 Cubic yards of trash/debris removed 46,300 Vehicles removed 61 Cubic yards of Invasive plants removed (since 2002) 492 The caption from this photo printed in the Observer & Eccentric in 1986 sums up what Rouge Rescue was all about for the first decade and a half or so log jam removal. Gone are the days of ripping out jog jams and hauling the woody debris away. Today we recognize the value of wood in the river and manage large woody debris to reduce localized erosion and provide habitat for fish and other organisms (aka fish food). Note the caption of this photo printed in the Observer and Eccentric Newspaper in Photos from FOTR archives: Left: A group of volunteers show off the work that had been done. Right: A crowd of volunteers fill a dumpster with large woody debris. Promoting restoration and stewardship of the Rouge River since 1986

2 In 2011, Rouge Rescue attracted 1,550+ volunteers who participated in clean up and stewardship projects at 39 worksites in 25 communities across the Rouge River watershed. Table 2 lists site participation by activity for Twenty four sites worked to clean up trash from the river and surrounding natural areas. Invasive plant removal continues to be a popular Rouge Rescue activity with twenty two sites working to remove garlic mustard, dame s rocket, phragmites, buckthorn and honeysuckle. Sixteen sites helped restore the watershed by planting native vegetation. The demise of the Ash trees in Southeast Michigan from the emerald ash borer resulted in 11 worksites managing log jams this year. This is up from 7 sites last year. Thirteen sites conducted educational activities. Table 2: Site Participation by Activity Sites removing trash 24 Sites removing invasive plants 22 Sites installing plantings 16 Number of sites planting: Rain gardens 1 Riparian buffers 1 Native gardens/ prairies 7 Bio-swales 1 Trees 8 Sites managing wood in the river 11 Sites maintaining trails 6 Sites coordinating educational activities 13 Many sites have expanded the types of activities they coordinate for Rouge Rescue. Dame s rocket is one example of a non native invasive plant volunteers pull during Rouge Rescue. Hooray for our site coordinators! We appreciate the time you invest in planning and arranging projects for Rouge Rescue work sites. A summary of the progress made during Rouge Rescue 2011 is described below and is listed in Table 3. The summary is a compilation of the data reported by the individual sites. Four sites did not provide detailed reports. As a result, the numbers listed below may underestimate the actual numbers. The numbers do represent the success of the event. Trash Removal: 146 cubic yards of trash and debris was removed, including a minimum of 21 tires, 11 shopping carts, 3 bicycles, 1 large appliance and furniture. Aristeo Table 3: Summary of the Progress Made Construction removed an old truck from the floodplain in Eliza by Task Howell Park and strategically placed large tree trunks to prevent future dumping. Trash Removal Cubic yard of trash/debris 146 Tires 21 Shopping carts 11 Bicycles 3 Furniture & appliances 2 Vehicles 1 Invasive Plant Removal Cubic yard of invasive plants 339 Native Plants Installed Flowers/grasses 700 Trees/shrubs 211 Invasive Plant Removal: 339 cubic yards of invasive plants were removed to restore the river corridor in parks and preserves across the watershed. The quantity of invasive plants removed was over two times that of trash. This is quite a change from Rouge Rescue events of the past! Native Plants Installed: 700 native wildflowers and grasses and 211 trees were planted to help reduce pollution caused by rain water. These plantings also improve wildlife habitat.

3 Rouge Rescue site coordinators are an integral part of Rouge Rescue. Without them the event would not be possible. These dedicated individuals spend time planning for and arranging activities, gathering supplies, recruiting volunteers and, generally, doing everything necessary to run the event. Friends of the Rouge thanks these special individuals! Kesh Raizada (in yellow) coordinates the Meadows of Canton site along with family, neighbors and co workers from the Wayne County Public Service Department. Site Coordinator, Larry Quarles and Rick Lewandowski from Aristeo Construction discuss the logistics of removing a truck from the woods in Detroit s Eliza Howell Park. Coordinator Helena Thornton uses a wagon to carry supplies to the work site in Hines Park. Sponsor support is also essential for the success of Rouge Rescue. Friends of the Rouge would like to thank our returning sponsors for their continued support. These are: ITC Holdings, Denso International America, Aristeo Construction, Waste Management, Marathon Petroleum Company and Atlas Specialty Bags. New sponsors this year include the Alliance of Rouge Communities, Environmental Consulting and Technology, Quicken Loans, and Marine Pollution Control. Friends of the Rouge is grateful to have the support from the Erb Family Foundation and funding from the Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project. Our community partners provide many contributions large and small. Friends of the Rouge is grateful for all they do to help improve the Rouge River for Rouge Rescue and throughout the year. Volunteers from Denso International America participated at 3 work sites this year the DENSO corporate campus, Beech Woods Recreation Center and the Berberian Woods work sites in Southfield. Denso volunteers also participated in a garlic mustard cook off the week before Rouge Rescue in anticipation of the removal of the invasive plant. Some of my favorite volunteer experiences were during Rouge Rescue. Every year, my dad, my brother, and I were always the muddiest and craziest volunteers in the river. The organizers always enjoyed seeing us working hard to remove garbage from the river. One year, we pulled out two or three cars. Another year, we found a bicycle, a lawn mower, and about seven shopping carts! The work was very rewarding! ~Mekie Kukan, volunteer

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5 Beverly Hills Douglas Evans Nature Preserve Coordinator: Erin Wilks, Village of Beverly Hills # Volunteers: 22 Trash removal: 5 bags Invasive plant removal: 20 bags of Garlic Mustard, Dame's Rocket and Honeysuckle spp. Other activities: Public Education Activities Birmingham Canton Lower Rouge Recreational Trail Coordinator: Greg Pyle, Canton Township # Volunteers: 202 Trash removal: 5 cubic yards plus shopping carts New plantings: 40 trees and 6 flats flowers and grasses to create a 2,000 sq. ft native plant demonstration garden Other activities: Public Education Activities and Nature Walks Garlic Mustard Pull Together Coordinators: Rick Simek, University of Michigan Dearborn, Environmental Interpretive Center Karen Marzonie, Henry Ford Estate Martha Gruelle, Lakeplain Cluster of the Stewardship Network Cyndi Ross, Friends of the Rouge # Volunteers: 55 Invasive plant removal: ~ 100 bags The Henry Ford Estate Linden Park Coordinator: Connie Folk, City of Birmingham # Volunteers: 22 Invasive plant removal: 120 bags of Garlic Mustard, Dame's Rocket and Buckthorn spp. in 1/4 acre area Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Insitute of Science Coordinator: Lisa Appel, Cranbrook Institute of Science # Volunteers: 55 Invasive plant removal: 41 bags of Garlic Mustard and Dame's Rocket in 1/4 acre area New plantings: 100 flowers and grasses in an existing Rain garden Other activities: Rain Garden Maintenance and Expansion Local groups: CIS, Cranbrook LITE Club and Boy Scouts E.L. Johnson Nature Center Coordinators: Dan Badgely, E.L. Johnson Nature Center Noah Mehalski, Bloomfield Township # Volunteers: 44 Trash removal: 20 bags of trash removed from ¼ acre area Invasive plant removal: 2 bags of Garlic Mustard and Dame's Rocket removed from 100 sq. ft. area New plantings: 10 trees/shrubs were planted Other activities: Trail maintenance and woodchip installation Local groups: Ducks Unlimited Volunteers stop to learn about the local wildlife at the Canton Lower Recreation Trail site. Meadows of Canton Coordinator: Kesh Raizada, Wayne County Public Services Department # Volunteers: 107 Trash removal: 7 bags of trash removed from a mile of river Other activities: Public Education Activities and Nature Walks, including mercury thermometer exchange, bird house building, bug hunt and storm drain stenciling Local groups: Meadows of Canton residents, Wayne County Dept Public Services Dearborn Gateway Trail Coordinator: Thomas Trimble, Christ Church Volunteer # Volunteers: 16 Trash removal: 6 bags Other activities: Trail Maintenance Local groups: Christ Church Dearborn, University of Michigan Dearborn Field Biology Students and Sacred Heart Parish Coordinator: Karen Marzonie, Henry Ford Estate # Volunteers: 16 Invasive plant removal: 10 bags of Garlic Mustard from ¼ acre area New plantings: 190 native plugs were planted in a 1,200 sq. ft. native plant demonstration garden Other activities: Nature walks, Public Education Activities including woodchip spread on 200 of trails Local groups: Henry Ford Estate volunteers Dearborn Heights Parkland Park Coordinator: Steven Roberts, Dearborn Heights Watershed Stewards Commission # Volunteers: 48 Trash removal: 10 bags Invasive plant removal: 16 bags of Garlic Mustard New plantings: Tree planting and 1,000 sq. ft. native plant demonstration garden Other activities: Public Education Activities Volunteers weed the native plant grow zone in Parkland Park in Dearborn Heights

6 Hines Drive at Outer Drive Coordinator: Helena Thornton, Dearborn Heights Resident # Volunteers: 12 Trash removal: 9 bags Invasive plant removal: 5 bags of Garlic Mustard New plantings: Tree planting Other activities: Woody Debris Management Local groups: Wastenotbiz,LLC Young volunteers help clean up trash at the Fordson Island worksite. Fordson Island Farmington Hills Heritage Park Coordinator: Randy Lovett, City of Farmington Hills # Volunteers: 36 Invasive plant removal: 80 cubic yards of Garlic Mustard, Buckthorn spp., and Honeysuckle spp. from a 43,560 sq. ft. area New plantings: 6 trees Other activities: Nature Walks, Public Education Activities and Woody Debris Management Local groups: Planning Commission and Local Political Leaders Coordinator: Marina Chavez Camarena, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision # Volunteers: 20 Volunteers spread woodchips to maintain the trail in Eliza Howell Park in Detroit. Detroit Eliza Howell Park Coordinator: Larry Quarles, Friends of Eliza Howell Park # Volunteers: 23 Trash removal: 15 bags plus 1 truck and 4 tires were removed from a 2,640 sq. ft. area Other activities: Weeded 4 large planting boxes, spread new wood chips on nature trail, cut grass around walking trail and large tree trunks were put in place to stop the dumping of vehicles and debris into the Rouge River Local groups: Aristeo Construction, Friends of Eliza Howell Park, Brightmoor Alliance and Friends of Rouge Park Trash removal: 30 cubic yards including tires, mattresses, pieces of old furniture, old toys, glass windows, random bags of trash and some brush Invasive plant removal: 20 cubic yards of phragmities and tree of heaven from a 70 sq. ft. area Local groups: Marathon Petroleum Company, Marine Pollution Control, WSU Students Rouge Park Coordinator: Sally Petrella, Friends of Rouge Park # Volunteers: 109 Trash removal: 33 bags removed from a 30,000 sq. ft. area, including 1 tire, front car bumper and plastic bottles and cans Invasive plant removal: 34 bags of garlic mustard removed from a 28,000 sq. ft. area New plantings: 24 wildflowers and grasses were installed to create a native plant demonstration garden Other activities: 3,000 ft. of walking trail cleaned of overhanging vegetation. Discovered and cleaned up meth lab along bike trail in woods. Local groups: Friends of Rouge Park, Detroit Aero Modelers, City of Detroit, Dtown Farm and Buffalo Soldiers Farmington Shiawassee Park Volunteers from Marathon, Marine Pollution Control and the surrounding neighborhood work near Fordson Island Oakland Community College Coordinator: Mike Kadrofske, Oakland Community College # Volunteers: 28 Livonia Trash removal: 32 bags plus 2 tires, a mailbox, tennis balls, a basketball and styrofoam removed from 1/4 mile section at Minnow Drain Pond Coventry Gardens Coordinator: Chuck Eastman, Coventry Gardens Improvement Association # Volunteers: 12 Trash removal: 8 bags plus 1 bike and clothing Invasive plant removal: 17 bags of Garlic Mustard New plantings: Planted a 25 sq. ft. native plant demonstration garden Other activities: Woody Debris Management Coordinator: Martha Ross, Friends of the Rouge Volunteer # Volunteers: 21 Trinity Church It wouldn t be Rouge Rescue without Aristeo Construction removing a vehicle from the river or floodplain! Thanks to Aristeo, 24 1/2 vehicles have been removed, since Trash removal: 4 bags Invasive plant removal: 9 cubic yards of Garlic Mustard, Dame's Rocket, Buckthorn spp and Honeysuckle spp in a 8,000 sq. ft. area New plantings: Expanded an existing riparian buffer by 50 sq. ft. with 40 native wildflowers Other activities: Public Education Activities Local groups: Boy Scouts and Church groups Coordinator: David Weigel, Trinity Church # Volunteers: 27 Trash removal: 32 bags plus 2 tires, car parts, 2 bicycles and a guard rail removed Invasive plant removal: 2 bags of Garlic Mustard removed Local groups: Trinity Church and Redford Union High School

7 Golf/Foch Nature Preserve Coordinator: Douglas Moore, City of Livonia # Volunteers: 26 Trash removal: 25 bags plus 2 tires, 3 shopping carts, 1 stove, plywood, cinder blocks, landscape debris and a baby seat New plantings: 100 trees over 1,000 sq. ft. Other activities: Woody Debris Management, 1 log jam cleaned of trash Local groups: City of Livonia, area residents Northville Recreation Area Coordinator: Brady Tyburski, Boy Scout # Volunteers: 31 Novi Trash removal: 12 bags plus boards, pallet, baseballs, beer bottles Other activities: Woody Debris Management Local groups: Boy Scout Troop 777 Rotary Park Plymouth Twp. Lake Pointe Soccer Park Coordinator: Susan Vignoe, Plymouth Township # Volunteers: 53 New plantings: 27 trees/shrubs and 19 wildflowers were planted in a 1,000 sq. ft. area Other activities: Public Education Activities, including 60 Storm drain markings Local groups: AISIN, Boy Scouts, Spalding Decker Assoc. Co. Volunteers at the Allen Drive Park site plant a native wildflower planting and weed an existing prairie planting along the Middle Rouge in Northville Northville Allen Drive Park Coordinator: Janine Bauchat, Northville Resident No data provided Northville Twp. Bennett Arboretum Coordinator: Jordyn Salmon, The Office of Commissioner Laura Cox No data provided Linear Park Coordinator: Jill Rickard, Northville Township # Volunteers: 30 Other activities: Children s Educational Activities Stonewater Community Coordinator: Lora Wright, Stonewater Community Resident # Volunteers: 13 Trash removal: 5 bags plus a Lumber for Sale sign Invasive plant removal: Phragmites control New plantings: 6 trees were planted Other activities: Woody Debris Management, 1 log jam cleaned and opened Local groups: Boy Scouts Coordinator: Wendy DuVall, City of Novi # Volunteers: 57 Trash removal: 16 bags & 30 cubic yards of debris including bottles, cans, shoes, plastic grocery bags, foam, rope and a chair cushion Invasive plant removal: 6 bags and 10 cubic yards of Garlic Mustard from a 1 mile area New plantings: Planted 5 Flats flowers in a bioswale Local groups: Toyota and Rotary Plymouth Liberty Trash Grab Coordinators: Mary Jo Cothery and Joe Walters, Liberty Street Brewing Company Sue Thompson, Friends of the Rouge Board of Directors # Volunteers: 10 Trash removal: 8 bags (42 1/2 pounds!) Lion s Club Park Coordinator: Adam Gerlach, City of Plymouth # Volunteers: 80 Trash removal: 12 bags and 37 cubic yards of trash removed from 65,000 sq. ft. area, including bricks, concrete, stumps, dead trees and root balls Other activities: Woody Debris Management and Storm Drain Stenciling Local groups: Ward Church, Plymouth First United Methodist Church, Cub Scout Pack 773, Girl Scout Brownies 40392, Plymouth Lion s Club, Bets of Plymouth and National Miss America Stonewater Community volunteers gettin ready to work Redford Jane Addams Elementary Coordinator: Jennifer Lawson, Redford Twp. Resident No data provided Pulling garlic mustard is a family affair at the Berberian Woods Nature Preserve Southfield Berberian Woods Coordinators: Gail Barber, Southfield Resident Heather Huffstutler, Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy # Volunteers: 20 DENSO Trash removal: 1 tire Invasive plant removal: 60 bags of Garlic Mustard and Dame's Rocket from 16 acre area Local groups: DENSO and Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy Coordinator: Melissa Smith, DENSO International America # Volunteers: 111 Trash removal: 6 bags plus 2 tires, 2 shopping carts, 2 sheets of metal, grating and a metal table Invasive plant removal: 139 bags of Garlic Mustard and Dame's Rocket Other activities: Woody Debris Management 1 log jam cleaned and opened

8 Beech Woods Recreation Center Coordinator: Brandy Siedlaczek, City of Southfield # Volunteers: 53 Wayne Dynamite Park West Bloomfield Other activities: Woody Debris Management Local groups: DENSO, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Southfield Korean Presbyterian Church, Madonna Ecological Volunteer Organization Superior Twp Kosch Headwaters Preserve Coordinator: Scott Tyrrell, Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy # Volunteers: 9 Invasive plant removal: 8 bags of Garlic Mustard Coordinator: Kurt Kuban, Wayne Resident # Volunteers: 55 Trash removal: 10 bags plus 6 tires, a go cart, lots of bottles and cans, a cooler, waste basket and various containers Invasive plant removal: Japanese Knapweed New plantings: 259 native wildflowers to create a native plant demonstration garden Other activities: Woody Debris Management and Nature Walks. Cleaned and opened dozens of log jams to open canoe route. Also built 7 benches along walking trail and did some trail maintenance. Local groups: City of Wayne, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club West Bloomfield Nature Preserve Coordinator: Laurel Zoet, West Bloomfield Township # Volunteers: 39 Invasive plant removal: 9 bags of Dame's Rocket Other activities: Public Education and Nature Walks Local groups: West Bloomfield Residents Walled Lake Mercer Beach Party Coordinator: Lisa McGill, City of Walled Lake # Volunteers: not a volunteer event Other activities: Public Education Event Goudy Park Coordinator: Amy Morse, Hoover Elementary School # Volunteers: 56 New plantings: 258 native wildflowers were planted to create a native plant demonstration garden along the Lower Rouge Local groups: Hoover Elementary Students, Friends of the Rouge Hauling a shopping cart out of the Holliday Nature Preserve at the end of the day. Students plant native wildflowers at Goudy Park Westland Holliday Nature Preserve Coordinators: Kevin Buford, City of Westland Bill Craig, Holliday Nature Preserve Association # Volunteers: 31 Hoover Elementary students plant a native garden near the banks of the Lower Rouge at Goudy Park in Wayne Trash removal: 30 bags and 6 shopping carts Invasive plant removal: 3 truckloads of chipped honeysuckle (approximately 36 cubic yards) Other activities: Woody Debris Management Volunteers work to remove honeysuckle, a non native invasive shrub, from the Holliday Nature Preserve.

9 Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead Twenty five years ago a few dedicated individuals teamed up to organize Friends of the Rouge and held the first Rouge Rescue to raise public awareness of the troubled river flowing through the most populated communities in Michigan. This led to a quarter century of watershed education and stewardship of the Rouge River! A few familiar faces line up in sequence to show off their t shirts from 1987 to The Rouge River has come a long way what was once thought of as a dumping ground and an open sewer, today provides recreation opportunities close to home.

10 To learn about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities contact Cyndi Ross at or visit us online at Promoting restoration and stewardship of the Rouge River since 1986